LSA Accomplishments in 2014

In 2014, the LSA continued its ongoing programs and services to fulfill its mission: to advance the scientific study of language. Highlights of new and expanded activities are outlined below:

Launched a major campaign to support enactment of federal legislation to further enable preservation and revitalization of Native American languages, generating over 700 letters to Congress, while developing a coalition of more than 40 organizations working to support the two bills.

Following a major fundraising drive, established two new student fellowships in honor of Ivan Sag and Charles Fillmore, and a new Linguistic Institute Professorship in memory of Dr. Fillmore.

Issued the first-ever LSA Annual Report on the State of Linguistics in Higher Education.

With financial support from linguistics departments and programs, launched the LSA News Stories Initiative, a broad-based effort to increase coverage of linguistics research in the popular news media.

Expanded the staff to hire the first-ever LSA Director of Communications to lead the Society’s public outreach, media relations, and legislative advocacy efforts.

Continued a major expansion to its flagship journal, Language, publishing content in new online sections focused on: Teaching Linguistics, Historical Syntax, Public Policy, and Perspectives. As part of the expansion, established the first-ever open access archive of Language articles (Volume 89 – present).

Launched the publication of Proceedings of the Annual Meetings in Phonology.

Supported the human rights of linguistic scholars at risk, and the ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of the Disabled.

Sponsored a linguistics booth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival, attended by thousands of students and families from the national capital region.

Presented the first-ever Excellence in Community Linguistics Award to Mary Ann Metallic of the Listuguj Education Directorate within the Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government.

Collaborated with the organizers of CoLang and the Linguistics Olympiad to become a co-sponsor of those events, including financial support for student participation.

Awarded travel grants to four student linguists to attend the LSA Annual Meeting, under the auspices of the LSA’s Committee on Ethnic Diversity.

Celebrated the 90th anniversary of the LSA by holding a research symposium and birthday party in Minneapolis, and producing a retrospective video available on Youtube.

Issued a series of news releases about the latest research published in its journals and presented at its Annual Meeting, garnering significant coverage in prominent international media outlets.

Defended linguistics departments and programs against threats of cuts or elimination by contacting administrators and officials and by working behind the scenes to provide data in support of the value of linguistics.

Created an open-access archive of all materials published under the auspices of eLanguage, the LSA’s scholarly digital publishing platform. The archive includes co-journal articles, book notices, extended abstracts, and conference proceedings.

Published a new volume of Semantics & Pragmatics, the platinum open-access journal of the LSA.

Pursued a national policy agenda to facilitate the efforts of linguists and other scientists working to benefit society, including continued federal funding for linguistics research.

Expanded the curriculum and course materials available in its online Linguistic Academic Depository, which is a searchable clearinghouse of digital resources.

Provided financial assistance and in-kind support for linguists seeking to attend the LSA Annual Meeting and access LSA publications.

Represented linguists at national and international meetings of colleague organizations and through participation in coalitions and consortia working to advance science, the humanities, and higher education.

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The mission of the LSA is to advance the scientific study of language. The LSA aspires to a world in which the essential nature of language and its central role in human life is well understood. » Read more about us